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The Great Grift: 5 things to know about how COVID-19 relief aid was stolen or wasted

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The greatest grift in U.S. history was brazen, even simple. Criminals and gangs grabbed the money. So did an U.S. soldier in Georgia, the pastors of a defunct church in Texas, a former state lawmaker in Missouri and a roofing contractor in Montana.Over the last three years, thieves plundered billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief aid intended to combat the worst pandemic in a century and to stabilize an economy in free fall.Here are some key takeaways from an Associated Press analysis of what may have been stolen or wasted.HOW MUCH WAS STOLEN?An Associated Press analysis found that fraudsters potentially stole more than $280 billion in COVID-19 relief funding; another $123 billion was wasted or misspent. Combined, the loss represents a jarring 10% of the $4.2 trillion the U.S. government has so far disbursed in COVID-relief aid.That number is certain to grow as investigators dig deeper into thousands of potential schemes.There are myriad reasons for the sta...

Watchdog: Nuclear states modernize their weapons, Chinese arsenal is growing

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:57 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — The nine nuclear-armed states continue to modernize their arsenals and several deployed new nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable weapon systems in 2022, a Swedish think tank said Monday.“We are drifting into one of the most dangerous periods in human history,” said Dan Smith, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, or SIPRI. “It is imperative that the world’s governments find ways to cooperate in order to calm geopolitical tensions, slow arms races and deal with the worsening consequences of environmental breakdown and rising world hunger,” he said in a statement.SIPRI estimated that of the total global inventory of 12,512 warheads in January 2023, some 9,576 were in military stockpiles for potential use which was 86 more than in January 2022.The independent institute listed the nuclear-armed states as the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel.In its yearbook, the Swedish watchdog wrot...

The Great Grift: How billions in COVID-19 relief aid was stolen or wasted

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Much of the theft was brazen, even simple.Fraudsters used the Social Security numbers of dead people and federal prisoners to get unemployment checks. Cheaters collected those benefits in multiple states. And federal loan applicants weren’t cross-checked against a Treasury Department database that would have raised red flags about sketchy borrowers.Criminals and gangs grabbed the money. But so did a U.S. soldier in Georgia, the pastors of a defunct church in Texas, a former state lawmaker in Missouri and a roofing contractor in Montana.All of it led to the greatest grift in U.S. history, with thieves plundering billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief aid intended to combat the worst pandemic in a century and to stabilize an economy in free fall.An Associated Press analysis found that fraudsters potentially stole more than $280 billion in COVID-19 relief funding; another $123 billion was wasted or misspent. Combined, the loss represents 10% of the $4.2 trilli...

Scandal-scarred Silvio Berlusconi dies at 86

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:57 GMT

ROME (AP) — Silvio Berlusconi, the boastful billionaire media mogul who was Italy's longest-serving premier despite scandals over his sex-fueled parties and allegations of corruption, died Monday, according to Italian media. He was 86.Berlusconi’s Mediaset television network announced his death with a smiling photo of the man on its homepage and the headline: “Berlusconi is dead.”Berlusconi was hospitalized on Friday for the second time in months for treatment of chronic leukemia. He also suffered over the years from heart ailments, prostate cancer and was hospitalized for COVID-19 in 2020.A onetime cruise ship crooner, Berlusconi used his television networks and immense wealth to launch his long political career, inspiring both loyalty and loathing.To admirers, the three-time premier was a capable and charismatic statesman who sought to elevate Italy on the world stage. To critics, he was a populist who threatened to undermine democracy by wielding political power as a tool to enri...

GasBuddy: Average Albany prices unchanged in last week

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Average gasoline prices in Albany are unchanged in the last week, averaging $3.70/g on Monday, according to GasBuddy's survey of 546 stations in Albany. Prices in Albany are 1.3 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and 125.9 cents per gallon lower than a year ago. The national average diesel price has fallen 1.6 cents in the last week and stands at $3.87 per gallon. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Albany was priced at $3.41/g Sunday while the most expensive was $3.89/g, a difference of 48.0 cents per gallon. The lowest price in the state Sunday was $2.96/g, while the highest was $4.25/g, a difference of $1.29/g.The national average price of gasoline has risen 5.6 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.57/g Monday. The national average is up 5.7 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 144.6 cents per gallon lower than a ye...

Bridge: June 12, 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:57 GMT

Say you’re declarer at a four-heart contract (such as today’s). You have four potential losers, but if you can lose two of them on the same trick(!), you will be home.Sound like a good deal? That is the basis for the loser-on-loser play, a technique with wide application. Today’s declarer played at four hearts after West had overcalled in clubs. West led the king of clubs and continued with the ace, and South ruffed.South rightly suspected that West had the ace of diamonds as part of his bid, vulnerable. South could have played West for the doubleton ace but found a better line.LAST SPADESouth drew trumps, went to the ace of spades, ruffed a club, took the king of spades and ruffed his last spade in dummy. He next led dummy’s last club — and threw a diamond, trading one loser for another.When West won, he had no winning return. If West took his ace of diamonds, South’s king would score. If West led a club, South would ruff in dummy and throw anoth...

Roads, hiking trails closed in several Joshua Tree destinations as crews work to contain 1,088-acre fire

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:57 GMT

A few tour roads and hiking destinations in Joshua Tree National Park remained closed Sunday evening as firefighters worked to contain a 1,000-plus acre blaze that began burning on Saturday, June 10, officials said.The fire was reported around 4 p.m. on Saturday burning around 300 acres in an area with low vegetation that quickly spread the flames, according to the National Park Service. By Sunday morning, the fire had spread to 1,088 acres and was 30 percent contained.Road closures remained in effect in the evening for Geology Tour Road and Berdoo Canyon Road, said National Park Service spokesperson Sasha Travaglio. Hiking in the Pinkham Canyon and Fried Liver Wash areas was also closed, as well as backcountry camping in the Lost Horse, Pleasant Valley, Twin Tanks and Hexie Mountain zones.All other areas of the park — located in Riverside and San Bernardino counties — remained open though visitors were advised to remain aware and expect smoke.The cause of the fire was under investi...

Silvio Berlusconi, scandal-scarred ex-Italian leader, dies at 86

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:57 GMT

By FRANCES D’EMILIO | Associated PressROME  — Silvio Berlusconi, the boastful billionaire media mogul who was Italy’s longest-serving premier despite scandals over his sex-fueled parties and allegations of corruption, died Monday, according to his television network. He was 86.Mediaset announced his death with a smiling photo of the man on its homepage and the headline: “Berlusconi is dead.”Berlusconi was hospitalized on Friday for the second time in months for treatment of chronic leukemia. He also suffered over the years from heart ailments, prostate cancer and was hospitalized for COVID-19 in 2020.A onetime cruise ship crooner, Berlusconi used his television networks and immense wealth to launch his long political career, inspiring both loyalty and loathing.To admirers, the three-time premier was a capable and charismatic statesman who sought to elevate Italy on the world stage. To critics, he was a populist who threatened to undermine democracy by wielding political power as a t...

Ask Amy: My babysitting commitment is agitating my husband

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:57 GMT

Dear Amy: My little sister took over the family farm and has been running it (with my other sister) for two years. It is an incredible amount of work, and it keeps her busy from sunup to sundown.A year and a half ago, she had a son. I offered to watch him.Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: My grandson says his college grades are none of my business Advice | Ask Amy: Stranded bicyclist has an opinion on the coldest generation Advice | Ask Amy: My husband won’t say why he contacted these women Advice | Ask Amy: How do I tell my parents why I don’t like their friend? Advice | Ask Amy: I overheard their unkind comments about me at the funeral I’m a stay-at-home mom for my own boys, so no problem. We currently live with my parents, whose home sits right on the farm property.My sister offered money, but I said I was happy to watch him without payment.I agreed to this without first discussing i...

Harriette Cole: Anytime I complain, she implies I’m a coward

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:57 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m having a hard time with my best friend lately.It seems that every time I complain about something or someone, no matter how minor or insignificant the issue may be, she takes it way too seriously and makes me feel like I’m a coward for not reacting in the way she would.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I’m afraid her fashion choice is dangerous Advice | Harriette Cole: Was committing to this Midwestern university a mistake? Advice | Harriette Cole: How could I have kept this dorm situation from escalating? Advice | Harriette Cole: Should I cut my parents off because they can’t shut up about my life? Advice | Harriette Cole: This clumsy woman wrecks my house and acts like it’s a joke I love my friend dearly and value her opinion, but her reaction to my complaints has become overwhelming. I feel like I can’t talk to her about anything anymore w...